Washington (Jan. 16)—Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez was joined by former Commerce Secretary Donald L. Evans today in recognizing the accomplishments of the Department over the past eight years, including moving the U.S. trade agenda forward. In closing remarks thanking President Bush for the opportunity to serve and the men and women working at the Commerce Department for their support and dedication, Gutierrez said, “This is the best job I have ever had.”

Washington (Jan. 15)—U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez sent the following letter to Chairmen John D. Rockefeller and Henry A. Waxman to urge Congress to immediately pass legislation to enable Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to accelerate the distribution of TV converter box coupons to American households. (More) (Letters to Chairman Waxman and Chairman Rockefeller)

New NIST Method Accelerates Stability Testing of Soy-Based Biofuel

Gaithersburg, Md. (Jan. 15)—The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed a method to accelerate stability testing of biodiesel fuel made from soybeans and also identified additives that enhance stability at high temperatures. The results, described in a new paper, could help overcome a key barrier to practical use of biofuels. Both oxidation and heating can cause biodiesel to break down, adversely affecting performance. NIST’s “advanced distillation curve” method could accelerate and simplify testing of biodiesels, according to lead author Tom Bruno. (More)